Drowning

Chapter 6

Arianna bolted out of her bedroom door and raced down the stairs. She was always a clumsy girl, and racing down the stairs at full sprit caused her to trip over her feet. She recovered quickly and dashed to her mothers bedroom. The room was messy and cluttered, but Arianna was able to find what she was looking for in her fathers nightstand. A black pistol. She quickly checked to see if it was loaded, and to her relief it was. Arianna checked the hallway to see if Ben was there. He wasn't. She walked cautiously to the stairs leading to the first floor. Other than the stairs creaking, the house was silent. This gave her the chills. She knew he was here, and yet he wasn't moving. He was going to try to surprise her.

The first floor was as quiet as the second. This time her goal was to get out of the house. The gun was just a means of defense. She made her way to the living room, and silently crept past the tv. Suddenly the flatscreen came to life. Arianna froze. The tv was filled with static, but soon after, Ben's face appeared.

"If you knew the first thing about me you'd know I travel through electronics." He said. "Please don't shoot your own tv."

She had aimed the gun at his face. "Just let me go, and I won't call the cops on you." She said even though she knew it was the oldest lie in the book.

"Oh, the cops couldn't do anything if they tried." Ben sighed. "Look, I'm not even trying to kill you."

Arianna released a nervous laugh. "Yeah right." She cocked the gun.

It was Ben's turn to laugh. "That gun is not the slightest bit intimidating. It has literally no effect on me. Arianna need I remind you that I am a cyber ghost?"

Arianna was beginning to panic. She didn't know if she should believe the infamous killer or not. "I don't believe you."

"Really? Why must you newbies be so difficult? I'm inside your damn tv! Obviously I'm real!" Ben said.

"Newbies? What the hell!"Arianna yelled.

She was interrupted by a loud knock on the door. "Ana! You home?" June called from behind the front door.

Arianna froze. "Shit." She said. She looked towards the door then back to the tv. Ben's face was gone.

"Are you going to open the door, or am I?" Ben was standing by the door with his arms crossed.

Arianna inched her way to the door with the gun still trained on him. She opened the door quickly and dashed out, and running straight into June.

"Run June! We have to get out of here!" Arianna jumped up and grabbed June's arm.

"What the hell?" June looked at Arianna then toward the doorway where Ben was standing.

She looked both surprised and angered. It was not the expression Arianna was expecting to see.

"June! Oh thank goodness someone that actually knows what's going on." Ben said in a sarcastically over dramatic voice.

June glared at him. "This better be you listening to Slenderman. I swear Ben if you're trying to kill my best friend-"

"Oh no I wouldn't even dare to do that." He said. "As I was trying to explain to Arianna earlier, I'm just here to keep an eye on her."

"Did Slenderman think she was in danger?" June asked. "And why would he send you?"

"It's a long story. Perhaps we could discuss it in a more comfortable setting?" Ben replied.

Arianna was still on the ground with June at her side.

"Agreed." June said. "Ana, you can put the gun down now."

Arianna was beyond confused. "He's a-a killer June! How do you know him! What the hell-"